From world traveler to ESL teacher to small-town livin' in South Jersey – meet Caitlin Macri, owner and founder of Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal. Lover of Broadway musicals and all things Miyazaki, this sustainably-minded newlywed had an epiphany one day and created what's now her dream bridal boutique.

While she faced some challenges along the way, Caitlin couldn't be more pleased with the outcome of her business so far. Getting rave reviews from the brides that she and the other bridal stylists serve every week at the boutique truly fuel this passion project that got off the ground back in May of 2022.

What is Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal?

Caitlin, owner and operator at Hand-Me-Gowns standing outside of her boutique, smiling

Hand-Me-Gowns is where brides-to-be in the South Jersey and Philadelphia area are given a sustainable fashion option without having to sacrifice on experience and quality. This small-town bridal boutique is doing exactly what's its supposed to, by serving a much-needed market for brides looking for their dream wedding dress but who also want to cut down on their wedding waste in a budget-friendly and fun way.

Here's a glimpse at Mrs. Macri's story, including her vision for the future of the boutique and it's place in the world of pre-owned designer bridal.

1. How long have you lived in Hammonton?

Caitlin: I moved here to Hammonton in March 2018, after falling in love with and marrying a local! I am originally from Orlando, Florida and had been living abroad in Busan South Korea, Prague, and Seville for about 5 years before coming home. It's been so much fun going from living in cities and sprawling suburban metro areas to such a welcoming spot with a distinct, small-town feel. I love it.  

2. When did the idea for Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal come to be?

Caitlin: I was very excited about my wedding, but super concerned when I started my own wedding dress shopping process. It was overwhelming to see how many of the fun, picture-perfect bridal shopping moments that I wanted unfortunately created unnecessary wedding waste. Why was that?

“I kept asking myself, Why isn’t anybody putting these two things together? A boutique experience with these stunning once-worn designer gowns? Until the day when I finally said, ‘Why not me?’”

Caitlin: While prioritizing how to keep my wedding waste to a minimum, I realized that there were so many gorgeous gowns being sold online that were either in great condition and cleaned or even brand new with tags on, which meant that (I thought) I could save hundreds of dollars while also cutting down on waste! I really didn't want to source out a totally new gown when so many beautiful dresses were already out there in the marketplace. But when the rubber met the road, I just couldn't bring myself to send the money sight-unseen, or have my special bridal moment be in someone else's house's bathroom with my mom waiting in the car to see if I liked it or not. That's not a dream scenario!

All that to say, we ended up going through with the typical boutique experience. And I spent almost three times my budget to have my family be there with me.

Then, the epiphany happened….

Caitlin: I calmed myself down from spending so much on my wedding dress by thinking, "Well, I'll just sell my gown online like everybody else!" But when I logged on to post my wedding dress for sale, I noticed that a lot of the gowns I had loved over a year ago were still there…still waiting for someone to buy them. And sure enough, my dress also sat online for ages and never sold, even though it got lots of attention, messages, shares, likes, and not to mention tons of failed meet-up request and spam messages.

It made me so sad, then I started thinking and kept asking myself, "Why isn't anybody putting these two things together? A boutique experience with these stunning once-worn designer gowns? Until the day when I finally said, 'Why not me?'"

Fast forward to May 2022, when Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal opened their doors in Hammonton, New Jersey.

Caitlin: When COVID hit (quickly followed by the inevitable existential crisis), I decided it was time to follow my dreams and take matters into my own hands, not having any clue if the community would feel the same way as I did. I'm so lucky they did!

A good sign that I had hit a bit of a jackpot here was after over a year trying to sell my own gown online, it sold in just a month in the boutique when we opened. We're proud to be your leading sustainable bridal shop serving South Jersey, Philadelphia, and beyond! (Seriously, we're less than a 2-hour drive from NYC or a 2 hour 15 minute train ride away).

3. What makes Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal different from your average wedding dress boutique?

Caitlin: Hand-Me-Gowns values community and sustainability at attainable prices. We believe that the most sustainable gown is the one that already exists, and that finding the gown is no less special than in a more traditional bridal boutique or dress shop.

We are the first in South Jersey to offer a truly upscale bridal experience shopping for designer once-worn and never-worn wedding gowns at a fraction of their original prices. On top of that, your purchase goes directly back to another bride to help her recoup some of those wedding costs. At Hand-Me-Gowns, we also focus on making our entire experience local and small-business inclusive, featuring little extras local fresh flowers and handmade baked goods. I always make sure to give our showroom a little extra touch of love! Even our furniture was sourced from preowned and vintage sellers.

“The wedding industry can be so rewarding in so many ways, and for every tough day, you’re rewarded with witnessing the moment when a bride tries on a dress that makes her feel truly beautiful.”

Woman sipping a coffee inside a cafe in Downtown Hammonton. Storefronts can be seen in the background.

Was it a challenge to open your own boutique selling pre-owned wedding gowns?

Caitlin: It was! In order to open with a viable inventory, I spent about a year "collecting" gowns - which sometimes meant convincing brides to consign and let me sell their gowns for them, but often purchasing them outright with my own savings, since we didn't yet have a reputation established (or even a brick and mortar location).

Since the boutique wedding dress industry was entirely new industry for me, I also spent nights and weekends taking business courses from NJSBD (shout out to them!) and bridal shop owner groups online, all while I was still working my normal full-time job to fund this passion project. I was learning how to be a business owner, a consignment shop manager, and a bridal stylist all at once while also working my Monday-Friday, 9-5 project management position (good thing I already had project management skills, right?)

What is one of your favorite things about running your own business?

Caitlin: I've loved meeting people from near and far, speaking with them one-on-one and hearing their love stories. The wedding industry can be so rewarding in so many ways, and for every tough day, you're rewarded with witnessing the moment when a bride tries on a dress that makes her feel truly beautiful. It's also so empowering to feel like you have the ability to directly make a difference in the experience of another bride and be a part of making wonderful memories.

Even after spending three times my wedding dress budget on my own gown in 2020, I felt at the time that the bridal industry didn't seem to "see me" as worthy. I felt like just a number rather than a person at the dress sample shop and was pushed into the back corner sale rack at the nicer boutique, even though I was buying the most expensive garment of my life! I find it very healing of my own experience to be able to give that to brides, to help make them feel special. You know, lemons to lemonade and all that.

And to be able to help our sweet consigners, too. Many of them are just starting their lives as newlyweds, moving into a new home, having children, or maybe they finally have the time to start investing in their hobbies and goals. So for those choosing to consign their wedding dress with us, it's nice to be able to send them a check in the mail and help with that, too!

“But a celebration of love is not frivolous. We simply do our best. There are a lot of systems in place currently that are working against couples having a more thoughtful and conscious celebration that doesn’t lead to waste, so the best thing I think couples can do to have a sustainable wedding is make choices based on their priorities.”

woman with red hair and an updo sitting down on steps outside with dark green background.

What does a sustainable wedding look like to you?

Caitlin: There's this cliche that "perfect is the enemy of good" and I think it applies so aptly to huge undertakings like sustainability. So often, I think people are motivated to have a more "sustainable" wedding or another big event or celebration out of a feeling of helplessness or despair. They look around and say, "How can I possibly do something frivolous like this when the world is suffering?"

But a celebration of love is not frivolous. We simply do our best. There are a lot of systems in place currently that are working against couples having a more thoughtful and conscious celebration that doesn't lead to waste, so the best thing I think couples nowadays can do to have a sustainable wedding is make choices based on their priorities.

That's an amazing insight. Can you give some practical examples on creating a more 'eco-friendly' or sustainable wedding?

Caitlin: A sustainable wedding doesn't have to be ten people in your backyard eating off of gray biodegradable plates. It can be just making choices thoughtfully based on the things you love.

If having the look of vinyl table numbers is important to you, thrift them from local bride groups like "South Jersey Weddings" on Facebook. If food is important to you, consider local farm-to-table caterers or ask about donation options for any excess. If having flowers makes your heart sing, consider giving them another life with organizations like Forget Me Knot Flowers. And if having a designer gown and saying yes with your loved ones is important to you, come and book your bridal appointment at Hand-Me-Gowns!

Caitlin at her bridal boutique, sitting on a dusty rose couch and smiling, pre-owned bridal gowns in the background. Hand Me Gowns is South Jersey and Philadelphia's go-to pre-loved bridal wear boutique.

How does it feel to be 'living your dream' with this bridal boutique?

Caitlin: It feels amazing! We started off small because I wasn't seeing very many bridal consignment and preowned wedding dress options in the area, so we weren't sure at the time if there would be any demand for it. But, I've been so delighted to discover that there is a demand, and it's been fabulous meeting brides that think like we do.

One last question! What's your dream for the future of Hand-Me-Gowns?

Caitlin: What we're working towards in 2024 is becoming the sustainable bridal and any wedding-related gown or accessory option leader in South Jersey and the Philadelphia area. Secondhand and preowned shopping still sometimes gets a bad rap (although I'm so pleased that it's swiftly changing!), so we're going to keep pushing towards becoming an even more luxurious, Top 10 Bridal Experience that our brides can be proud of.

We're also hoping to add in other sustainable wedding options to our collection at the boutique, such as Flower Girl gowns, Mother of the Bride gowns, and even bachelorette accessories that might otherwise just be one-and-done. While we currently sell consigned bridal accessories at our boutique, we know there's room to expand and offer an even more stunning selection for our brides.

We'd also love to collaborate with sustainable local fashion designers in the area of Hammonton and beyond to give new life to the pre-owned gowns that sometimes get left behind at our boutique!

Meet Caitlin, Owner & Head Stylist at Hand-Me-Gowns